Ciattarelli Challenges Guadagno to Debates in all 21 NJ Counties

By TAPINTO SOMERVILLE STAFF

January 18, 2017 at 10:29 PM

Content Options

By TAPINTO SOMERVILLE STAFF

January 18, 2017 at 10:29 PM

SOMERVILLE, NJ - State Assemblyman and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli has challenged Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno to debate him in all 21 New Jersey counties, and criticized the ISSUES page on her web site as “shamefully light on specifics and substance about how to solve the economic and fiscal crises facing New Jersey.”

The GOP and Democrat primaries are June 6th.

“Taxpayers and voters are fed up with platitudes and generalities like the ones put forth by Lt. Governor Guadagno during her kickoff yesterday and on her web page,” said Ciattarelli, (R-16th), who represents votes in Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex and Mercer counties.

The assemblyman outlined his own comprehensive and detailed five-point plan to grow the economy, reform school funding, restore fiscal discipline and forge solutions across party lines on the day that he announced his candidacy in October of last year.

“Kim has been the 2nd highest elected official in our state for more than seven years and, according to her, has been exploring a run for Governor for months. So it amazes me she had time to put together a slick video for her web site, but was unable or unwilling to put forth a plan for New Jersey’s future with any specifics or substance," the Hillsborough resident added. "New Jerseyans deserve better.”

Saying the state is “at a tipping point” after seven years of the Christie-Guadagno Administration, an overwhelming Democratic majority, and all too influential special interests, Ciattarelli said Guadagno needs to do better.

“To be honest, I was little embarrassed for Kim after reading the ISSUES page on her new web site,” said Ciattarelli. “After seven years with her as second-in-command, we have the worst economic growth and highest property taxes in the country, the highest foreclosure rate in the country, and an analysis by the United Way this week that a staggering 37% of the states’ households live paycheck to paycheck due to New Jersey’s high cost of living and lack of economic opportunity. We can’t afford to have more of the same.”

He continued: “Yet, the best Kim can do is promise a ‘holistic strategy’ on property taxes, a hollow promise to reform school funding with no specifics, and insult voters’ intelligence by claiming ‘New Jersey's economy has improved.’ If nothing else, this verifies the need for a new direction.

"It also verifies the need for a robust schedule of debates running throughout the primary campaign," Ciattarelli continued. "I have instructed my team to work with Kim’s camp and the other candidates to schedule a debate in every county – whether in front of five people of 500 – so voters can see us in action. If Republicans are going to win in November, we need a candidate who has a real plan and is battle-tested. These debates will produce that, and give us our best chance to win in November.”

TRENTON, NJ – In 2016, 53 people in New Jersey loss their lives in a fire and another 239 sustained injuries from deadly blazes. Legislation sponsored by state Assembly members Annette Quijano, Joe Danielsen and Annette Chaparro hopes to prevent such deaths and injuries as part of the “New Home Fire Safety Act.”

The measure cleared the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee last ...

TRENTON, NJ – In 2016, 53 people in New Jersey loss their lives in a fire and another 239 sustained ...

CHEVY CHASE, MD - Two dozen members of New Jersey 4-H clubs, including Kate McHale from Hillsborough, NJ attended the National Agri-Science Youth Summit at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center here.

The purpose of the Jan. 10-13 conference was to provide youth with an opportunity to learn about and develop an understanding of the critical role that agricultural science innovation plays in ...

CHEVY CHASE, MD - Two dozen members of New Jersey 4-H clubs, including Kate McHale from ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Jim Walsh, longtime member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, St. Patrick's Division, has been named Grand Marshal of the annual Main Street St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 10 by the Somerville St. Patrick's Parade Committee.

A dinner and reception to honor the Grand Marshal will be held Friday, Feb. 8 at the Somerset Columbus Club, 495 E. Main St., from 7-10 p.m.

Walsh, a ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Jim Walsh, longtime member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, St. Patrick's ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ - The Somerset Patriots have signed of right-handed pitcher James Pugliese for the 2019 season. His rights were acquired in a trade with the York Revolution for the rights to infielder Nate Coronado.

“I’m really excited to be coming home and playing for Somerset,” said Pugliese. “This will be the closest I’ve been ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - Citing its centralized location, easy access to highways and proximity to the Somerville train station, New Jersey Rep.Tom Malinowski (D-7th) has opened a temporary district office in Somerville at 58 E. Main St. to handle constituent needs.

The flagship District Office will be located at 75-77 N Bridge St. Somerville. The facility is currently undergoing construction which ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - Citing its centralized location, easy access to highways and proximity to the ...

BOUND BROOK, NJ – A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has led to the arrest of a Bound Brook man who has been charged with 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for the distribution of child pornography and 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child for the possession of child pornography, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H.

BOUND BROOK, NJ – A tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has led to the ...

BASKING RIDGE, NJ - The 27th annual "Nature Through a Child's Eye" exhibit of Somerset County elementary students' art with an environmental theme will be on display through Feb. 3 at the Somerset County Park Commission Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road.

The theme this year is nocturnal animals, said Vanessa Darras, the EEC naturalist who is in charge of the exhibit.

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Keeping road pavement in good shape saves money and energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, more than offsetting pollution generated during road construction, according to a Rutgers-led study.

The study appears in the International Journal of Sustainable Transportation.

The researchers found that extending the life of pavement through preventive maintenance can ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - A doctoral student in ecology and evolution is turning microorganisms into art, and her hobby into a powerful tool for genomics studies at Rutgers University–New Brunswick.

Julia Van Etten’s Couch Microscopy Instagram page has attracted close to 18,000 followers in a year and a half, thanks to her breathtakingly detailed videos and photos of diatoms, algae, plankton, insect ...

NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - A doctoral student in ecology and evolution is turning microorganisms into art, ...